28 Oct 2014 Book explores impact of digital technology

Global ethics day banner. Photo: Matt Katzenberger/Carnegie Council.

Globethics.net has announced publication of a new book that examines how the world of digital technology is reshaping communications and the implications for society, culture and politics.

“More or Less Equal: How Digital Platforms Can Help Advance Communication Rights” was edited by Philip Lee and Dafne Sabanes Plou. Lee is WACC Deputy Director of Programmes and Plou is a communicator with the Rights for Women program at the Association for Progressive Communications (APC).

The book’s description notes that today’s digital platforms offer the tantalizing possibility of learning and taking into account opinions from the margins that contradict the dominant voices in the public sphere. The concept of citizen journalism has radically altered traditional news and information flows, encouraging greater interaction and interdependence.

“More or Less Equal” asks what challenges this development poses for societies worldwide. What ethical questions does it raise? The book explores these questions against a background of rapid technological change and with the aim of strengthening the communication rights of all people everywhere.

The book’s essays include such topics as ethical challenges and social media, communication networks in Latin America, women’s access to social media networks, media ethics and citizen journalism, and the gender dimensions of communication rights.

In the introduction, the editors note that the publication “argues that equality, accessibility, and diversity are watchwords in building and maintaining societies and communities based on principles of justice, sustainability and peace.”

The book is available as a free download here. Print copies can be ordered from globethics.net.